ONE National and Lesbian and Gay Archives is thrilled to announce that Kathleen Garfield has made the largest gift ONE has ever received for the conservation and exhibition of its extensive fine art collection.

Donated on behalf of herself, son and daughter-in-law Michael and Roxanne Aldridge, daughter Jennifer Aldridge and granddaughter Madison Aldridge, the gift reflects the depth of Kathleen's own interests in art.
 
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon,

Kathleen Garfield

Kathleen moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s where she raised her children with her second husband, Irwin "Bud" Garfield, a real estate developer and builder.

During their marriage, Kathleen and Bud developed a passion for contemporary art.  They began collecting art in earnest during the 1980s, including both emerging and established artists from Los Angeles, New York, Europe and elsewhere.  With the encouragement of renowned clay artist Rick Dillingham, Kathleen also became an avid devotee of contemporary ceramic art and traditional pottery.  In the early 1990s, Kathleen produced "Revolutions of the Wheel," a documentary film series about the history of ceramic art in the United States.

Kathleen has also served the local arts community in a variety of art-related capacities, including the board of the Cultural Grant Program of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Board of Trustees for the Otis College of Art and Design.
 
Through her personal interests and participation in arts communities, Kathleen came to admire and form strong friendships with many gay artists, some of whom later died from complications of HIV/AIDS.  Kathleen's support of ONE's efforts to preserve art by and about the LGBT community reflects her belief that gay artists' unique and valuable perspectives are worthy of special recognition.

ONE is grateful for the support of allies of the LGBT community like Kathleen Garfield and the Aldridge Families.